Articles:

In a recent article ("Thank You Mr. Waxman"), I told you about an insidious attempt at strangling the dietary supplement industry. Basically, while no one was looking, Henry Waxman (D.CA) attached amendment language into the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009 (H.R. 4173) that would expand the powers of the Federal Trade Commission (not the FDA because of DHSEA — Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act) to terrorize nutritional supplement companies. The language greatly expanded the power of the FTC to make its own laws that target dietary supplement companies. H.R. 4173 was passed by the House and reached the Senate (S.3217).

The FTC routinely targets nutritional supplement companies for telling the truth about their products. Companies are often threatened for simply linking to published scientific studies about their products. For example, before DSHEA, a company could not say that Vitamin C was good for a cold. The FTC has been criminally extorting money from supplement companies for years.

Well, thanks to some vigilant organizations and significant grassroots support, just last week the Wall Street Reform Bill omitted the sweeping new powers for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The dietary supplements industry now has its own lobbyists. Lots of grassroots action and good lobbying are a powerful combination. In the last 2 months there were over a million messages sent to Congress by many grassroots organizations on this issue. Hopefully, the message was received again by Congress that Americans do not want them messing around with our dietary supplements.

Unfortunately, the battle will continue. Big Pharma and Big Industry hate the natural medicine and natural health industries. Everything from organic food and air pollution to dietary supplements will always be under attack. We will constantly have to be vigilant for their next moves. But for now, score one for the "good guys". I know I will sleep a little better tonight knowing that tomorrow when I wake up I can take my dietary supplements.

Thanks for your support.

To your health,
Dr. Karen Purcell